Memorandum to Czech Presidency and Ten Test - EEB

EEB Memorandum to the Czech EU Presidency- A clear requirement for Member States to address current rates of soilsealing.7.7. Bring National Emission Limits DownThe National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive is one of the pillars of the EU’sair pollution control legislation. Its revision in 2009 will determine the muchneedednew interim air quality targets for 2020, as foreseen in the 6 thEnvironmental Action Programme, and set tighter limits on emissions of sulphurdioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and ammonia, plus firstevernational caps on emissions of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), to be achievedby Member States by 2020.The directive was already due for revision in 2004 and the Commission did all thepreparatory work. But by the middle of 2008 they decided to postpone it further toavoid annoying Member States who were deciding on the Energy/Climatepackage. In October 2008, the Czech and Swedish environment ministers, whowill be chairing the Environment Council in 2009, called upon the Commission forimmediate adoption of the revision proposal. The ministers concluded that “newstricter ceilings leading to additional emission abatement measures are urgentlyrequired”.The longer the revision is postponed, the greater the need for updating of crucialinput data will be. In order to maintain its credibility, the whole computermodelling analysis may have to be repeated, which would lead to additional costsas well as additional delays. Moreover, Member States and industry requireadequate time frames for implementation, so any (further) delay will bedetrimental to the cost-effective implementation of the Directive. It is time forclear guidance to be given to the market, as investment portfolios addressing airpollution and climate change are unfolding now. At best, a delay will createuncertainty for these investments and, at worst, undermine and discourage them.Further postponement will also lead to a delay in other air quality laws scheduledfor presentation and adoption in 2009/10, particularly stricter emissions and fuelstandards for marine shipping. Such a chain reaction of delays will furtherjeopardise the attainment of the objectives of the 6th EAP by failing tosignificantly reduce air pollution from ships on European seas and ashore.Postponement of policy proposals in the EU also has wider internationalimplications – such as slowing down revision progress under the Convention onLong-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP).In the course of the interim evaluation of the implementation of the NECDirective, it has become clear that current national emissions ceilings are notsufficient to meet even interim environmental and health objectives for 2010, sonew stricter ceilings are urgently needed. Data reported by 25 Member Statesshows that most will not meet the emission ceilings objectives for nitrogen33